More than 2200 species of the wild flora and fauna photographed in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico and the surrounding area.
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Fruits of Zihuatanejo
Jacaratia mexicana
-Vascular Plants (Phylum Tracheophyta)
-Flowering Plants (Subphylum Angiospermae)
-Mustards, Capers, and Allies (Order Brassicales)
-Papaya Family (Family Caricaceae)
-Genus Jacaratia
-Jacaratia mexicana
Jacaratia Mexicana (Bonet or Ch'iich'puut) grows to about 40 feet high (12 m). It's a member of the Papaya Family, the Caricceae. The bole is very thick at the base, tapering upwards and dividing into a few heavy branches. Female trees produce oblong, angled and thickly ridged, green, papaya-like fruits. The edible fruit is sometimes gathered from the wild for local consumption. The reddish-yellow flesh of teh fruit has a sweet flavour. They can be eaten in salads, cooked, or can be made into sweetmeats of various kinds. Jacaratia mexicana is native to dry forests from southern Mexico to Nicaragua at low and moderate elevations, to 1500 m.
Description
• Jacaratia mexicana, commonly known as Mexican papaya or bonete, is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree in the papaya family (Caricaceae). It has a thick, often spiny trunk with a swollen, succulent appearance that stores water, and branches near the top bearing large, palmately divided leaves. The tree is generally dioecious, with male and female flowers borne on separate plants. Its fleshy fruits are elongated or rounded, often with several prominent ridges, and turn yellowish when ripe. The fruits contain numerous seeds and are an important food source for wildlife.
Range
• Jacaratia mexicana is native to Mexico and parts of Central America. It occurs in tropical regions, particularly in areas with a pronounced dry season. It is native to Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, and the surrounding area.
Habitat
• It grows in tropical dry forests, seasonally dry woodland, and scrub, often on rocky or well-drained soils. Its succulent trunk helps it withstand seasonal drought, and it commonly loses its leaves during the dry season. The tree is adapted to warm climates and is often found in open forest and along woodland margins.